Uber accused of letting staff spy on celebs and exes

Uber has defended itself following accusations that a lack of internal security allowed employees to spy on rides in real-time.

The firm's former forensic investigator made the allegations in a court declaration.

Uber said it had "hundreds of security and privacy experts working around the clock" to protect its data.

The firm recently settled a case in New York that alleged its "God View" tool was used to monitor rides.

"Uber's lack of security regarding its customer data was resulting in Uber employees being able to track high-profile politicians, celebrities, and even personal acquaintances of Uber employees, including ex-boyfriends/girlfriends, and ex-spouses," wrote former forensic investigator Ward Spangenberg in his court declaration.

Mr Spangenberg was fired from Uber earlier this year and is now suing the company over age discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.

Five former security professionals told news site Reveal and the Center for Investigative Reporting that Uber allowed broad access to ride data.

'Strict policies'

"Uber continues to increase our security investments and many of these efforts, like our multi-factor authentication checks and bug bounty program, have been widely reported," a spokesman for Uber said in a statement.

"This includes enforcing strict policies and technical controls to limit access to user data to authorised employees solely for purposes of their job responsibilities, and all potential violations are quickly and thoroughly investigated."

Uber app iconImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image caption

Uber has 40 million monthly active riders worldwide

The spokesman also denied that "all" or "nearly all" Uber's employees had access to customer data, with or without approval.

"Some teams have never had access to this information," he said.

Staff access to data was logged and routinely audited, the spokesman added.

Uber also said that "God View" no longer existed, and it now had an internal tool called "Heaven View".

In January, Uber paid $20,000 (£13,700) and promised to strengthen privacy policies in order to settle an investigation by New York's attorney general.

It followed a BuzzFeed news story in 2014 that alleged one of its reporter's rides had been tracked via "God View" without her permission.

Spoiler Alert: AI (Artifial Intelligence) Predicts How Scenes Will Play Out

A new artificial intelligence system can take still images and generate short videos that simulate what happens next similar to how humans can visually imagine how a scene will evolve, according to a new study.

Humans intuitively understand how the world works, which makes it easier for people, as opposed to machines, to envision how a scene will play out. But objects in a still image could move and interact in a multitude of different ways, making it very hard for machines to accomplish this feat, the researchers said. But a new, so-called deep-learning system was able to trick humans 20 per cent of the time when compared to real footage.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) pitted two neural networks against each other, with one trying to distinguish real videos from machine-generated ones, and the other trying to create videos that were realistic enough to trick the first system. [Super-Intelligent Machines: 7 Robotic Futures]

This kind of setup is known as a "generative adversarial network" (GAN), and competition between the systems results in increasingly realistic videos. When the researchers asked workers on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform to pick which videos were real, the users picked the machine-generated videos over genuine ones 20 percent of the time, the researchers said.

Early stages

Still, budding film directors probably don’t need to be too concerned about machines taking over their jobs yet — the videos were only 1 to 1.5 seconds long and were made at a resolution of 64 x 64 pixels. But the researchers said that the approach could eventually help robots and self-driving cars navigate dynamic environments and interact with humans, or let Facebook automatically tag videos with labels describing what is happening.

"Our algorithm can generate a reasonably realistic video of what it thinks the future will look like, which shows that it understands at some level what is happening in the present," said Carl Vondrick, a Ph.D. student in MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, who led the research. "Our work is an encouraging development in suggesting that computer scientists can imbue machines with much more advanced situational understanding."

The system is also able to learn unsupervised, the researchers said. This means that the two million videos — equivalent to about a year's worth of footage — that the system was trained on did not have to be labeled by a human, which dramatically reduces development time and makes it adaptable to new data.

In a study that is due to be presented at the Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) conference, which is being held from Dec. 5 to 10 in Barcelona, Spain, the researchers explain how they trained the system using videos of beaches, train stations, hospitals and golf courses.

"In early prototypes, one challenge we discovered was that the model would predict that the background would warp and deform," Vondrick told Live Science. To overcome this, they tweaked the design so that the system learned separate models for a static background and moving foreground before combining them to produce the video.

AI filmmakers

The MIT team is not the first to attempt to use artificial intelligence to generate video from scratch. But, previous approaches have tended to build video up frame by frame, the researchers said, which allows errors to accumulate at each stage. Instead, the new method processes the entire scene at once — normally 32 frames in one go.

Ian Goodfellow, a research scientist at the nonprofit organization OpenAI, who invented GAN, said that systems doing earlier work in this field were not able to generate both sharp images and motion the way this approach does. However, he added that a new approach that was unveiled by Google's DeepMind AI research unit last month, called Video Pixel Networks (VPN), is able to produce both sharp images and motion. [The 6 Strangest Robots Ever Created]

"Compared to GANs, VPN are easier to train, but take much longer to generate a video," he told Live Science. "VPN must generate the video one pixel at a time, while GANs can generate many pixels simultaneously."

Vondrick also points out that their approach works on more challenging data like videos scraped from the web, whereas VPN was demonstrated on specially designed benchmark training sets of videos depicting bouncing digits or robot arms.

The results are far from perfect, though. Often, objects in the foreground appear larger than they should, and humans can appear in the footage as blurry blobs, the researchers said. Objects can also disappear from a scene and others can appear out of nowhere, they added.

"The computer model starts off knowing nothing about the world. It has to learn what people look like, how objects move and what might happen," Vondrick said. "The model hasn't completely learned these things yet. Expanding its ability to understand high-level concepts like objects will dramatically improve the generations."

Another big challenge moving forward will be to create longer videos, because that will require the system to track more relationships between objects in the scene and for a longer time, according to Vondrick.

"To overcome this, it might be good to add human input to help the system understand elements of the scene that would be difficult for it to learn on its own," he said.

Review: Honda Civic 1.8 E

'Hindi, mahal ’yan! Imported ’yan!”

A friendly argument arises between two enterprising street urchins—unofficial watch-your-car boys collecting spare change at an outdoor parking lot—about the burgundy whip that pulls in. The statement is both right and wrong: The brand is Japanese, thus making the car imported. But priced at a very conservative P1.088 million, the Civic 1.8 E is anything but expensive.

That amount isn’t exactly chump change, but the new Civic looks more expensive than it really is. Channeling European luxury-brand sensibilities makes it the most premium-looking Civic to date. It seems to have shed the whole ‘sport-tuner’ vibe and switched to a more distinguished disposition.

This newfound refinement is apparent in the driving dynamics, too, the car having very little in common with the boy-racer Civics of the past. The only thing that still feels sort of sporty is the driving position—something Honda has, amazingly, kept consistent with all Civics over the years. Otherwise, it’s a completely different experience. It has the hardware to go fast, that’s apparent when you ease in the gas, but it just doesn’t feel like it wants to go fast.

While it isn’t as sharp as its predecessors around corners, it’s still surefootedenough to stay grippy in a yank-and-turn situation. Maybe it’s because the car has put on some weight after all these years—metabolism isn’t what it once was, can we get an amen?

This latest generation doesn’t pay homage to its lineage, except in still being great value for money. That said, it would be healthy to look at things from a different perspective. Back then, the EG or the SiR was a favorite among younger drivers because it went fast and had cheap parts aplenty. Fast-forward to today and priorities have changed. Finding the time to set up a car is hard. Going at breakneck speeds outside the track is stupid. Comfort, class, and a premium feel matter more.

The new Civic, aging with the audience that has grown up idolizing it, now offers these things. That’s evolution on a whole new level. 

SPECS: HONDA CIVIC 1.8 E

Price: P1,088,000

Engine: 1.8-liter SOHC I4

Power: 139hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 174Nm @ 4,300rpm

Transmission: continuously variable

Layout: FWD

Seating: 5

Score: 18/20

Honda takes the wraps off the new WR-V

IMAGE Honda Motor Company
Crossovers and SUVs are still getting hotter and more popular as more car buyers shift to these higher-riding vehicles. In a short period, Honda’s global portfolio of crossovers has expanded dramatically with the arrival of the HR-V, and then the BR-V. Now it’s about to grow even bigger.

Teased last month via a rendering, Honda’s newest baby crossover, the WR-V,aka “Winsome Runabout Vehicle”, has finally made its world debut at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show. As expected, this little runabout is based on Honda’s popular and versatile Jazz hatchback, but with the extra ground clearance and tough styling one would expect from its SUVs.

Up front is a variation of the brand’s crossover face, which features a taller hood and high-mounted slim headlights linked by a large chrome bar. Below this is a large grille opening. Moving on to the sides, everything from the A-Pillar back is virtually identical to the Jazz. Chunky matte black cladding outline the lower portions of the bumpers, while wheel arches and sills add some ruggedness to the once docile-looking hatchback.

At the back it receives slightly blockier re-profiled taillights which now extend to the rear hatch forming an “L” shape. The Jazz hatchback’s pillar-mounted reflectors have been replaced by black gloss panels, and the rear license plate recess sits close to the rear bumper, a design cue shared with its crossover siblings.

Heavily tinted windows hide its interior, but chances are it will be Jazz-based but tweaked to match its more adventurous exterior. Expect the brand’s flexible ULTR seats to be present.

Drivetrain options still remain a mystery at this point, but it will most likely have the same 1.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC mill and continuously variable transmission as the Brazilian-spec Fit/Jazz. It will probably be FWD to keep costs down, but an AWD option could still be a possibility since the platform supports it, as seen in some JDM models.

The WR-V will go on sale in Brazil and other South American markets in the first half of 2017.

It’s still too early to tell if Honda’s little South American CUV will be introduced in the Southeast Asian market, but having a lot in common with the Jazz makes it a possibility. Hopefully it reaches our shores someday. Judging by the enthusiasm crossovers are receiving in our market, there seems to be ample room for one more.

IMAGE Honda Motor Company

IMAGE Honda Motor Company

IMAGE Honda Motor Company

Jackie Chan given honorary Oscar at Governors Awards

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan was given an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards, after a staggering 56 years making movies.

The 62-year-old was handed the award by his Rush Hour co-star Chris Tucker on Saturday night (12Nov16), but not before stars including Tom Hanks and Michelle Yeoh listed his lengthy achievements.

Calling the Hong Kong-born star "Jackie 'Chantastic' Chan” and comparing him to John Wayne and Buster Keaton, Hanks said it was gratifying to be able to finally acknowledge Chan's extensive work.

In an exuberant speech, Chan said he knew he wanted an Oscar after seeing one of the prestigious awards at Sylvester Stallone's house many years ago, Variety reports.

"After 56 years in the film industry, making more than 200 films, after so many bones, finally," he quipped to the star-studded audience while holding his sought-after Oscar.

Chan had the audience in stitches after recalling a story about watching the Academy Awards on TV with his parents, and his father always asking him why he didn't have one of the statuettes, despite having made so many movies.

He praised Hong Kong for making him "proud to be Chinese," and thanked his fans, saying they were the reason "I continue to make movies, jumping through windows, kicking and punching, breaking my bones."

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, hosts of the eighth annual ceremony, also bestowed honorary Oscars on British film editor Anne V. Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentarian Frederick Wiseman.

Donald Trump is richer than all the presidents combined

The US presidency has been traditionally held by rich men. Not always—Truman, Coolidge, Lincoln, Grant and a few others were not wealthy and amongst our “poorest” presidents, according to24/7 Wall Street’s definitive list of presidential wealth adjusted into 2016 dollars.

On the other end of the spectrum, when you adjust for inflation as of 2010, there is George Washington with a net worth of $580 

million, Thomas Jefferson with $234 million, and John F. Kennedy with $1 billion—though he hadn’t technically inherited it when he was assassinated.

Combined, the first 44 presidents had around $2.99 billion in assets – in 2016 dollars. While that’s a lot, President-elect Donald Trump currently has a net worth of $3.0 billion, according to Bloomberg. (Still, he’s not wealthy enough to be ranked by its Billionaire list, which is limited to the 500 richest individuals.)

Of course, there’s not great visibility to Trump’s actual net worth—he could have much more or less. While Trump himself claims to have $10 billion, many people have called into question whether he’s a billionaire at all, given his lack of financial transparency and refusal to release his tax returns.

If Bloomberg’s numbers are right—and they are as legit, if not more, than anyone else’s—this makes Trump about $10 million richer than every Commander in Chief who came before him, combined.

Trump, Pence meeting in New York on Cabinet picks

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence embrace at their election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump planned to meet with Vice President-elect Mike Pence in New York on Tuesday to discuss key appointments as moderate Republican Mike Rogers was jettisoned from the transition team.

The departure of Rogers, a former congressman who was chairman of the House of Representatives intelligence committee, indicated Trump may be leaning away from some establishment figures as Pence takes over the transition team.

"Our work will provide a strong foundation for the new transition team leadership as they move into the post-election phase, which naturally is incorporating the campaign team in New York who drove President-elect Trump to an incredible victory last Tuesday," Rogers said in a statement.

Rogers, who worked on the transition team led by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for six months, said he would continue to advise Trump. Pence took over the transition leadership from Christie last week.

Trump and Pence will be "reviewing a number of names for key jobs" during the meeting at Trump Tower in New York as lists for the leadership positions begin to narrow, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said.

"If the vice president-elect is getting together with the president-elect to discuss names, then I would say that it's serious, obviously," he said on Monday.

Trump, a businessman who has never held public office, and the Pence-led transition team are working on picking members of his Cabinet and the heads of federal agencies.

Tuesday's meeting comes as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a longtime Trump friend and supporter, emerged as a leading candidate to be U.S. secretary of state.

"Well, that's possible," Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway teased on Fox News on Tuesday, when asked about the Giuliani report.

John Bolton, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, was also under consideration for the high-profile job, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Monday.

Giuliani became one of Trump's closest advisers during the campaign, functioning as a vocal defender on cable news programs and introducing him at many rallies. Giuliani has also been mentioned as a possible attorney general or homeland security secretary.

Trump's choice of Republican Party insider Reince Priebus to be White House chief of staff was heralded as an indication he wants to work with members of Congress, where a number of Republicans had opposed his candidacy.

However, Trump's appointment of Steve Bannon as chief strategist was roundly criticized by members of both parties who denounced the former Breitbart News chief as having made the website a forum for the "alt-right," a confederation of neo-Nazis, white supremacists and anti-Semites.

Bannon has been calling Republicans in Congress to build relationships with lawmakers after years of thumbing his nose at establishment figures in the party, according to website Politico.

People who received the calls, which included rank-and-file members as well as leaders, said the main message was that the Trump administration expects a very close relationship with Capitol Hill Republicans, Politico reported.

(Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey in Washington; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)